Nature Flashcards Snakes All photos are subject to the terms of the Creative Commons Public License Based on Nature Quiz Attribution-Non-Commercial 3.0 United States unless copyright otherwise By Phil Huxford noted. TMN-COT Meeting November, 2013 Texas Master Naturalist Cradle of Texas Chapter Cradle of Texas Chapter Yellow-bellied Water Snake Plain-bellied Water Snake Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster Elliptical eye pupils Bright yellow underneath Found around ponds, lakes, swamps, and wet bottomland forests 2 – 3 feet long Cradle of Texas Chapter Broad-banded Water snake Nerodia fasciata confluens Dark, wide bands separated by yellow Bold, dark checked stripes Strong swimmer Cradle of Texas Chapter 2 – 4 feet long Blotched Water Snake Nerodia erythrogaster transversa Black-edged; dark brown dorsal markings Yellow or sometimes orange belly Lives in small ponds, ditches, and rain-filled pools Typically 2 – 5 feet long Cradle of Texas Chapter Diamond-back Water Snake Northern Diamond-back Water Snake Nerodia rhombifer Heavy-bodied, large girth Can be dark brown Head somewhat flattened and wide Texas’ largest Nerodia Strikes without warning and viciously 4 – 6’ long Cradle of Texas Chapter Photo by J.D. Wilson http://srelherp.uga.edu/snakes/ Western Mud Snake Mud Snake Farancia abacura Lives in our area but rarely seen Glossy black above Red belly with black lines in belly Found in wooded swampland and wet areas Does not bite when handled but pokes tail like stinger 3 – 4 feet long Cradle of Texas Chapter Texas Coral Snake Micrurus fulvius tenere Blunt head; shiny, slender body Round pupils Colors red, yellow, black Lives in partly wooded organic material Cradle of Texas Chapter Usually 2 – 3 feet long Record: 47 ¾ inches in Brazoria County ‘Red touches yellow – kill a fellow. Red touches black – venom lack.’ Southern Copperhead Copperhead Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix Hourglass, dark cross bands over light tan color Found everywhere in Brazoria County Typically 1 – 2 feet; record is 3 feet 4 inches Yellowish tail tips in young Cradle of Texas Chapter Western Cottonmouth Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma Photos by Carl J. Franklin http://www.uta.edu/ Chunky body, stubby tail, angular Flat-topped head, wide jaws Typically dark and lack luster Found typically in small ponds, ditches, and rain-filled pools 1 – 2 feet long but could be up to 4 feet long Cradle of Texas Chapter Canebrake Rattlesnake Timber Rattlesnake Crotalus horridus Greyish brown to pinkish grey Reddish brown stripe along spine Found in moist lowland forests and woodlands near river 4 – 5 feet long; record 6 feet 4 inches Cradle of Texas Chapter Mild temperament; not easily aroused Western diamondback rattlesnake Crotalus atrox Black and white bands on tail Lateral head markings Tail has segments Cradle of Texas Chapter Found in plant-covered sand dunes 3 – 4 feet; record 6 feet in Rio Grande Valley Responsible for no snake fatalities in Texas .